For myself, 75% or more of my books came from either a dedicated 2nd hand bookstore, where I was able to buy at 25% or less of retail price. Or a Thriftshop/secondhand store with a few shelves of books, where I could typically pick up paperbacks for 25-50 cents, hardcovers for 1-2$.
The rest was either birthday or christmas presents,Gift card to B&N etc, or every other year or so I'd join the Science Fiction book club, pick my 6 or 7 books for pennys, and buy 3 more over the course of the year.
Yes, I was an early adopter of Ebook readers.
No, I never was a hot off the press hardcover buyer.
I do have a pretty fair collection. (BTW anyone want a ton or so of paper books? Make me an offer
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